BOISE, Idaho -- With the threat of wildfire danger increasing
rapidly, state and federal land management agencies will
implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all lands within
southwest Idaho effective Aug. 3, 2018, beginning at 12:01 a.m.
Fire restrictions limit certain activities in the outdoors to
decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated
areas.

The Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be in effect, until further
notice, in the Treasure Valley, West Central Mountains, and
Owyhee Mountains of Idaho which includes all federal, state and
private forestland and rangeland in:

Within Washington County, all Bureau of Reclamation lands
surrounding Mann Creek Reservoir.

Within Valley County, all Bureau of Reclamation lands
surrounding Lake Cascade.

Within Elmore and Boise counties, all Bureau of Reclamation
lands surrounding Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch reservoirs.

These restrictions are being implemented by agencies managing or
providing wildland fire protection, including the U.S Forest
Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho
Department of Lands (IDL). Fire managers divide Idaho into zones
and the fire restrictions will affect the following zones:

Treasure Valley Fire Restrictions Zone

All of Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette and Washington counties.
Portions of Boise County including the administrative
boundary of Lucky Peak Lake to Arrowrock Dam, south shore of
Arrowrock Reservoir and that portion of Elmore County that
lies south of the South Fork Boise River to Anderson Ranch
Dam, south along Anderson Dam Road (FS Rd 134) to Highway
20, east on Highway 20 to the Elmore/Gooding County line
south to Interstate 84.
The Treasure Valley Restriction area is bounded by the
Idaho/Oregon boundary to Oreana then follows the Bachman
Grade to Triangle and continues east-northeast of the Owyhee
Front to the Bruneau River. The northern boundary begins
near Weiser, Idaho and follows Highway 95 to Indian Valley,
then generally follows the Little Weiser River to the
Payette and Boise National Forest boundary lines.

West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone

Boise National Forest, Boise District BLM and State and
Endowment Lands within Elmore County, Boise County, and
Valley County to include all Bureau of Reclamation lands
surrounding Lake Cascade. From the point where the Boise
National Forest boundary intersects State Highway 20 near
Dixie following the Boise National Forest boundary west and
north along the ridge of the Danskin to Boise Front
foothills and extending north encompassing the Idaho
Department of Lands to its intersection back with the Boise
National Forest boundary near Sage Hen Reservoir. The far
northern boundary includes all Boise National Forest lands,
excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
All lands north of Sage Hen Reservoir including Tripod
Mountain and West Mountain within the North Fork Payette
River drainage north to near Tamarack Resort.

Owyhee Fire Restrictions Zone

All of Owyhee County west of the Bruneau Canyon

Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are
prohibited on private, state and federally managed or protected
lands, roads and trails:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire
or stove fire except
within a designated recreation site within a
permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on their own land
within an owner-provided structure.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or
designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at
least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all
flammable materials.

The following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes
the otherwise prohibited act.

Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or
liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels. Such devices, including
propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of
flammable material.

Persons conducting activities in those designated areas
where the activity is specifically authorized by written
posted notice.

Any federal, state or local officer or member of an
organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of
an official duty.

All land within a city boundary is exempted.

Other exemptions unique to each agency.

Fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when
spending time in the outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are
prohibited on state and private forestland and rangeland during
closed fire season (May 10 through Oct. 20), and on public
lands, roads and trail in Idaho all times of the year.

Controlled burning restrictions may be in place due to air
quality through the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
Information about DEQ burn bans is available at:
deq.idaho.gov/air-quality.aspx

The IDL fire safety burn permit is required during closed fire
season, and local burn

permits may be as well. To obtain permits for controlled burning
activities, visit:
burnpermits.idaho.gov

For more information about Stage 1 fire restrictions and to view
an interactive map, visit:
www.idahofireinfo.com

With the fire season well underway, the placement of these
restrictions is intended to keep visitors to public lands safe
as well as prevent the catastrophic effects of wildland fire. If
you are planning a visit to public lands in these areas, please
check with the Boise National Forest (www.fs.usda.gov/boise),
the BLM Idaho(www.blm.gov/idaho),
or the Idaho Department of Lands
(www.idl.idaho.gov)
websites for the latest
information or visit
www.idahofireinfo.com.